Cross training aerobic exercise bar

ABSTRACT

A cross training aerobic exercise bar include a cylindrical body having rounded ends disposed at opposing ends of the cylindrical body, a handgrip disposed at about a midpoint of the cylindrical body, and an outer handle connected to each of the rounded ends, each outer handle pivotably connected to a respective rounded end. The rounded ends and outer handle can form a ball-and-socket joint and include a low friction bearing surface.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application claims the benefit of priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/179,259, filed May 4, 2015, titled “Cross Training Aerobic Exercise Bar” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Upper body ergometers (UBEs) use a person's arms to strengthen and condition the user's upper body, while also providing a cardiovascular workout. Conventional UBEs are stationary machines that can include a main arm supported by a pedestal, with a rotatable bar at an end of the main arm proximal to a user's position. Attached to opposing ends of the rotatable bar are hand cranks. UBEs can vary in their arm crank motion, come with or without a seat, and have different types of resistance systems and adjustment levels.

UBEs can provide users with physical disabilities, injuries, and cardiac restrictions a mechanism to obtain suitable exercise when unable to use treadmills or elliptical machines. The UBE provides an alternative for an aerobic workout without high impact exercise or jogging. Progressive ranging of shoulder, elbow, wrist, torso and back can be accomplished on the UBE be adjusting seat fore and aft positions, seat height, and arm crank length. A conventional UBE is a stationary exercise machine that can have a footprint of about 60″ high, 64″ in length, and 45″ wide; with a weight of about 260 lbs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a cross training aerobic exercise bar in accordance with embodiments; and

FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 along line 2-2 in accordance with embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodying devices and methods provide an upper body cross training aerobic conditioning and rehabilitation exercise device, with which a user can vary movement in a synchronized direction to promote cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. The cross training exercise bar is a handheld device and, thus, not restricted to a particular location (unlike a conventional UBE). Embodying devices can be used concurrently with a treadmill, elliptical machine, cycling (stationary or mobile), walking, running, and any other activity.

FIG. 1 depicts cross training aerobic exercise bar 100 in accordance with embodiments. Exercise bar 100 includes a cylindrical body 110 having outer handles 115 at opposing ends of the cylinder. In some implementations, disposed at about a midpoint of the cylindrical body can be handgrip 120 formed of a rigid or soft material.

In accordance with embodiments, exercise bar 100 can have an overall length in the range of about 17-23 inches. Cylindrical body 100 can have an outer diameter of about 1 inch. This overall length comfortably can accommodate the placement of a user's hands on the outer handles. However, embodying devices are not so limited and other overall lengths, and diameters, can be within the scope of this disclosure.

Cylindrical body 110 can be a tube, rod, or solid piece. The exercise bar can be formed from a metal, or plastic material. In accordance with an implementation, the overall weight of an embodying exercise bar 100 can be in about 1.5 pounds (dependent on the material selection). Also dependent on the material selection, and construction of the cylindrical body, the body itself can be rigid or flexible.

Outer handles 115 can be pivotably connected to cylindrical body 110. The outer handles can have a diameter of about 2.25 inches. Outer handles 115 can be connected to cylindrical body 110 by rounded ends 125, which can be integrally formed with the cylindrical body. In some embodiments, rounded ends 125 can be either press-fit inserted inside a rod/tube of a hollow cylindrical body, or mated to a threaded portion (internal or external) at the end of the cylindrical body. The rounded ends can be solid, or hollow.

In accordance with embodiments, rounded ends 125 can be a ball portion of a ball-and-socket joint located at each end of the cylindrical body. In these embodiments, an inner surface of outer handles 115 would form the socket portion of the ball-and-socket joint. In certain implementations, bearing surface 130 can be located between the rounded ends and the outer handle. The bearing surface can be a low friction material (e.g., phenolic, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), acetal, etc.).

In use, a user grasps the outer handles located at each end of the exercise bar and rotates their hand one at a time, forward (or reverse) to complete a rotation of about 6 inches on each side. The exercise bar can be positioned at a user's torso—e.g., between their waist and shoulder. The pivotable connections between outer handles 115 and cylindrical bar 110 allow exercise bar 100 a freedom-of-motion through any rotational plane relative to the motion of a user's arms. A user can not only rotate the bar as described, but also can move the bar up/down and/or forward/reverse when cylindrical body 115 is formed from a flexible material.

There are at least eight basic exercise movements that can be performed with the exercise bar: ladder rolls (begin rotation at waist height and increase height with successive rotations); standing and sitting rows (move the center of the exercise bar towards one body side and then the other while performing the basic rotation); abdominal crunch (from a reclined position lift into a crunch movement while performing the basic rotation); jab (shift the body to one side while thrusting the exercise bar forward during the basic rotation); upper cut (upward thrust the exercise bar returning to a neutral position); and rear rotation (hold the exercise bar behind the body while performing the basic rotation during the basic rotation).

Exercising with the cross training aerobic exercise bar can work muscles in the arms (biceps, triceps), shoulders (deltoids), back (trapezius, latissimus dorsi) chest (pectoralis major, pectoralis minor), and abdomen (rectus abdominis, external oblique). Each of these basic exercise movements can be performed with exercise bar 100 while a user is walking on a treadmill, a track, using an elliptical machine, riding a stationary bike, walking, running, etc.

Although specific hardware and methods have been described herein, note that any number of other configurations may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the illustrated embodiments, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. The invention is defined solely with regard to the claims appended hereto, and equivalents of the recitations therein. 

I claim:
 1. An exercise bar comprising: a cylindrical body having rounded ends disposed at opposing ends of the cylindrical body; a handgrip disposed at about a midpoint of the cylindrical body; and an outer handle connected to each of the rounded ends, each outer handle pivotably connected to a respective rounded end.
 2. The exercise bar of claim 1, including the exercise bar having an overall length in the range of about 17 inches to about 23 inches.
 3. The exercise bar of claim 1, the cylindrical body having an outer diameter of about 1 inch.
 4. The exercise bar of claim 1, the cylindrical body formed from one of a rod, a tube, and a solid piece.
 5. The exercise bar of claim 1, the cylindrical body formed from a metal or a plastic material.
 6. The exercise bar of claim 1, the cylindrical bar being flexible.
 7. The exercise bar of claim 1, the rounded ends being integral to the cylindrical body.
 8. The exercise bar of claim 1, the rounded ends joined to the cylindrical body by one of press-fit insertion and threaded screw.
 9. The exercise bar of claim 1, the rounded end being a portion of a ball-and-socket joint.
 10. The exercise bar of claim 9, the outer handle each having an interior surface forming a socket of the ball-and-socket joint.
 11. The exercise bar of claim 9, including a bearing surface between the rounded end and an interior surface of the outer handle.
 12. The exercise bar of claim 11, the bearing surface formed from a low friction material selected from the group including phenolic, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, and acetal. 